Sheet metal working press



. April 1944- w. F. LONGFIELD 2,347,272 SHEET METAL WORKING PRESS Original Filed Aug. 2, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Mum/v EAm/GF/ELD BY ATTORNEY April 25, 1944.

Original Filed Aug. 2, 1940 W. 'F. LONGFIELD I SHEET METAL WORKING PRESS 1 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 M4 L/AM Flame/751.0

ATTORNEY April 1944- w. F. LONG FIELD SHEET METAL WORKING PRESS Original Filed Aug. 2, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 llllylll II I INVENTOR M2444; x, Z 0/1/6/7540 BY wida ATTORNEY April 25, 1944. w. F. LONGFIELD 2,347,272

SHEET METAL WORKING PRESS Original Filed Aug. 2, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIGQ 2.

lfi" lNVENTOR Mum F lamaF/zo A'I TORNEY April 1944- w. F. LONGFIELD 2,347,272

SHEET METAL WORKING PRESS Original Filed Aug. 2, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG] INVENTOR .MlL/AM FZd/VF/EZD F198. I BY g/ 2i ATTORNEY April 25, 1944.

W. F. LQNGFIELD SHEET METAL WORKING PRESS ori ihal Filed Aug. 2, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIGJO. INVENTOR MAL/4M FZOIVGF/EAO, BY L 54/. flfwzzz ATTQRNEY April 1944- w. F. LONGFIELD 2,347,272

SHEET METAL WORKING PRES Original Filed Aug. 2, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet '7 INVENTOR W/LL IHM f. lava/ 7540 BY ATTORNEY A ril 25, 1944. w. F. LONGFIELD SHEET METAL WORKING PRESS l0 Sheets-Sheet 8 Original Filed Aug. 2, 1940 INVENTOR Mum/v lama/751.0 BY

ATTORNEY April 25, 1944. w. F. LONGFIELD SHEET METAL WORKING PRESS 2 1o Sheets-Sheet 9 Original Filed Aug. 2, 1940 April 25, 1944.

w. F. LONGFIELD' 2,347,272

SHEET METAL WORKING PRESS Original Filed Aug. 2,1940 1o Sheets-Sheet 10 INVENTOR Mum/1 [04 6/7640 ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 25, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHEET ME'lli: PRESS William F. Longfield, Cleveland, "Ohio, assignor to The Cleveland Punch '& Shear Works Company, Clevelandf'Ohio, a corporation of Ohio 6 Claims.

This invention relates generally to sheet metal working presses equipped with dies having aplurality of different stations and means for feeding blanks to the dies and for transferring thapartially formed stamping from one station to the next succeeding station in the dies in timed relation to the operation of the press. It is a division of my co-pending application'SerialNo. 349,- 871 filed August 2, 1940, which'has become Patent 2,283,505, May 19, 1942.

One of the objects of theinvention is the provision, with mechanism of this characteigoi an improved hydraulic blank holder which is built within and is operated by .thereciprocation oi the press slide.

Another object of theinvention is theprovision,

taken substantially .on the line 1-1 .of Figure 1;

IFigureIB is afragmentary .sectional rear elevation taken on the line 8--8.of Figure 7;

FigureB isan enlarged view similar to Figure 2, with lpartsbroken away and part of .the,gear and. cam housing removed;

Figure 10 is a.ifragmentary sectional rear elevation, taken substantially on the line Ill-I of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is an enlarged .horizontal section taken on theline .l I- I| of Figure 1 showing the variousparts of the automatic feeding mechanism with a device 'of this character, of improved means for stripping. aistamping' from ,a the member at the end of the forming stroke and presenting it to a'transfer mechanism.

Another obj ect of the invention is 'the' provision of an improved stripping mechanism which is carried by and operated by the reciprocation of the slide and which is arranged to strip a stamping from a movable-die member and'force it down through and out of-a stationary die member ator near the bottom of the stroke.

'Another object of theinvention is the provision of a device of this characterwhich-is-simple and efficient in operation, and which can "be readily adjusted to different-types and 'siZes of work.

.Other and more specific objects of the invention will be apparent from the fcllowing'specification and .the accompanying drawings forming apart thereof :wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a sheet-metal workingpress embodyingmyihvention;

Figure.2.is aside elevation thereof looking from the rightaoflFigure 1;

Figure 3 is a central vertical section taken: substantially on -the.line 3-3 of Figure 1,..showing the die slide .and the parts carried thereby. in their uppermost positions;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary horizontalzsection taken'on theline 4-4 .of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view similar toaFigure 3,.sh'owing .thedie slide and the dies carried thereby-in their lowermost position, that is, at the end of :the forming stroke; t

.Figure 6 is a view similar to Figuures .3 .and 5 showing the various parts in the positions .they

position; shownin Figure 3;

Figure -7 is =asectional. s de elevation, :with a portion of the gear; and cam: housing removed,

in'the position they assume when the slide is in its uppermost ,position as .shown in Figures 1 and 3;

FigurelZ is a central vertical section taken on the line I2'l2 of Figure 11, the position of the upper or movable die members being shownin dotted lines;

Figure'13 is a transverse sectionitaken on .the line I3-|3 of Figure 12 showingthe construction of the mechanism 'for'moving the blank feeding. mechanism transversely. of the press, the front and rear sections being simultaneously moved toward and away from each other;

Figure 14 is a view'similarv to Figure 11 showing parts of the feedingand transfer mechanism in the position they assumeafterthe slide has completed its drawing or forming stroke and has partially completed its return stroke, being in the position shown in Figure6 Figure 15 is'a view similarto Figure 12 "with the various parts being in the same position as shown inFigure 14,and the "position of themovable die members being shown in dotted lines;

Figure 16 1s a view similar to Figure 11 showing parts of the feeding and transfer mechanism in the positions theyassume afterthe die slide has completed its "forming stroke and has practically completed its return stroke, having moved on beyondthe positionshown in Figures 6, Hand 15;

.Figure .17 is a view similar to Figuresl2 and 15 with the variousiparts being in the-same position as shown in Figure 16, and the position of the movable dieimemberszbeing shown in dotted'lines;

Figure 181is2a transversersectional view similar to Figure'l3 sh'owing theparts in a different position, and is takeniont'he line l 8-l8of Figure' 17.

Figure .19 11s :a view similar-to Figures 11, 14 and 16 showinggparts oftthet feeding and transfer mechanism in the position *theyassume just before the slide starts its-down orforming stroke:

Figure .20 is 'a view :similan'toxEigures :12, .15 and 1'? with various parts'beingJin 1 the position shown in Figure '19, and the-position OfithEIHOV- able die members beingshowniin .dotted dines;

Figure 21 is a detail section :taken on the line presses of this character.

Figure, 22 is detail sectional view illustrat..-..

ing the "construction o'fjthe cam for operating the suction cup which lifts the blanks from the magazine or loading station into position to be received by the feeding and transfer mechanism.

My invention as illustrated herein embodies a sheet metal working press of conventional design in which is mounted a die mechanism consisting of a plurality of dies for successively able part 22; the die I9 consists of a stationary part 23 and a co-operating movable part 24 and the die 20 consists of a stationary part 25 and a co-operating movable part 26. The stationary parts 2I, 23 and 25 are carried by a plate 21 which is secured to a die support 28 bolted to the bed I of the press, and the movable parts 22, 24 and 26 are securely fastened to the under side of the slide in alignment with the stationary parts 22, 23 and 25 respectively. The die I8 re- .ceives the discs 29 from the magazine 30 and performing diiferent operations upon a blank; an hydraulic blank holder ope'ratively associated with the die which performs-the;firstoperation; a stripping mechanism which strips the stampings from the movable parts of the various dies and forces them down through and out'ofthe stationary parts of the several dies; and means for-feeding blanks from a magazine into the die mechanism and for transferring the stamping from one dieto the next succeeding die. The die mechanism, blankholder, stripping mechanism, and the feeding and transfer mechanism are all co-related and are operated in timed relation to each other from the crank-shaft of the press. ,j

The press includes abed I, and a pair of uprights 2 extending'upwardly therefrom which support a crown 3 on their upper ends; the base, uprights and crown all being rigidly. secured together by tie-rods 4 as is standard practice in A die carrying slide 5 is reciprocally mounted between the uprights 2 by suitable gibs 6, and is reciprocated through connecting rods 1' by a' crank-shaft 8 rotatably mounted in the crown 3. The crank-shaft 8 is rotated through a pair of bull gears 9, one of which is secured to eachend thereof. The bull gears 9 mesh with pinion gears I0 secured to opposite ends of a backshaft II. The back shaft IIhas keyed thereto intermediate its ends a gear I2 which meshes with a pinion I3 on a second back shaft I4, which is drivenby a motor I5 and fly-wheel I6 throughasuitable clutch I1.

A die mechanism for drawing deep cups of relatively small .diameter frompreformed fiat sheet metal discs is suitably mounted in the forms 'cups 3|.

The cups 3| are then transferred to the die I9 which forms cups 32 of smaller diameter and greater depth therefrom. The cups 32 in turn are transferred from the die I9 to the die 20 which forms the finished cups 33 of still lesser diameter and greater depth. The feeding and transfer mechanism for feeding the discs from the magazine to the die I8 and for transferring the stamping from the die I8 to the die I9 and removing the finished cups or stampings 33 from the die 20 will be described in detail hereinafter.

In drawing cups from fiat sheet metal blanks it is necessary to hold the edges of the blanks with a certain definite pressure, which is dependent upon the design of the cup being drawn and the material used, while the cup is being drawn; otherwise the sides of the cup will be wrinkled. In reducing the diameter and increasingthe depth of a cup, however, a blankholder is not necessary as the two operations are entirely different. I have, therefore, provided a blankholder, generally indicated by the number 34, which operates in conjunction with the die I8. The blankholder 34 which is of the hydraulic type, is built into the die slide 5 and is operated, in proper timed relation to the die I8, by the reciprocation of the die slide. It includes a plate 35 which is connected by connecting rods 36 to four pistons 31 which are reciprocally mounted in cylinders 33 in the die slide 5. Removably secured to thelower face of the plate 35 is a blank engaging member 39, which surrounds the movable member 22 of the die [8 and is shaped-according to the particular design of the cup being drawn. As will be seen in Figure 3 the blank engagingmember 39 extends down beyond the lowpress, the stationary parts-of the die mechaflat sheet metal discs there isa limit to which the diameter can be reduced inone operation.

Consequently, in order todraw relativelydeep cups of small diameter from a fiat disc it is necessary to do it in several operations, the number of operations depending on the diameter and depth of the cup. The die mechanism illustrated herein performs three successive operations, the first operation forming a .cup from a flat disc and each succeeding operation reducing the diameter of the cup and increasing the depth thereof. After the die mechanism has once. become loaded the threeoperations will be performed simultaneously on different blanks, by each stroke of the press, mechanism being .pro-

vided for automatically feeding discs from a The'die mechanism as a whole comprises three a setsof dies I8,. I9 and 20. The diefitconsists of a stationary -par'tT2I and a cooperatin'gmover end of the movable die member 22 when the die slide 5 is in its raised position, that is, at the beginning of the down stroke. An oil reservoir 40, in the form of an air-tight chamber, is provided in the die slide 5 adjacent the cylinders 38. Air under any desired pressure is admitted to and maintained in the chamber 40 on top. of the oil therein, through a connection 4|. The air pressure in the chamber 40 will force oil through the check valves 42 and passageways 43; into the cylinders 38 on top of the pistons 31. therein, As the-pistons 31 are moved upwardlyin the cylinders 38 during the drawing operation, as will be presently described, they will force oil out of the cylinders 38 through the passageways' 43 and the relief valves 44 and into the chamber 40. The relief valves 44 may be set to open at any desired pressure, which will determine the resistance to the upward movement of the piston 41 and all parts connected thereto. Fromfthis it will be apparent that the setting of the relief valves 44 will-determine the pressure exerted by the blankholder upon the blanks during the drawing operation. The checkvalves 42 and relief valves 44 are of standard construction, and since there are a number of different designs available, any one of which may be used equally well, it is believed that his notnecessary to illustrate or describe them in detail-here.

"The operation of the blankholder' 34 and .dies 18, 1 Sand 20 .will not be described. Let us assume that'theslide and'the various-other parts are in the position shown in Figure 3, and that a blank isvinpositionvinthe die [8 and that, the partially:completed cups 3l :and-,32 are in position in-the dies 19 andp=as shown inlFigure 12. ':The clutch I1 is engaged-which will rotate the crankshaft *8 through the'reduction gearing :described hereinbefore. The operation of the clutch 11 is controlled :by :a suitable standard :control mechanismanot shown. TEach rotation of the crankshaft 8 will reciprocate thei'die" slide 5] from. the position shown in Figure 3, down tozthe position shown in Figure 4 and back to the positionishown in Figure 3. The downward movement'of the die slide 5"will first bring the blankengaglngmember 3915f the blankholder 34 into engagement with the blank 29. Theblankholder willthen'dwell and hold the edges ofthe blank-29 with the predetermined pressure, dependent upon the setting of therelief valves 44, whilethe die slide 5 and the movable parts22, Hand 26 of .the dies l8, I9 and 20 continue on downwardly,'the.die l8 drawing the cup 3| from the blank 29, the die I9 drawingthe cup 32'from the cup 3|, and the die 20drawing the finished-cup 33 from the cup 32.

Due to -the blank engaging member 39 extending downbelow the bottom'of thexmovable die'member22 it'will engage and hold the blank 29 with the desired pressure before'the die member 22 comes into engagement with the blank 29,.to draw thecup3|=byforcing the blank 29 downthrough thestationary part-2i as shown in Figure 5. The continued downward movement of the die slide 5*after the blankholder 34'hasengaged the blank 29 will cause a relative upward movement of the pistons 31 in the cylinders 38 forcing oil 9, out through the relief valves44 into the chamber 40. *After the blankholder has engaged the blank 29 it will remain stationary until the die slide '5 has completed its downward 'movement and has 'movedupwardly a distance equal to the distance it-moved downwardly "afterthe blankholderengaged the blank 29. i The blankholderwlll remain stationary during this initial upward movement of' the slide,-due -to 011 being forced from the chamber 40, bythe air pressure therein, through the check valves 42 and passageways 43 intothe cylinders 38 on top ofthe pistons 31, until the lower ends of the pistons 3l engage thecylinder heads-andthen the blankholder and die slide will move upwardly as a unitduring the remainder of the'upward movement of the slide.

ln drawing cups ofythis character with dies of the type shown there-is a tendency for the cups or stamping to adhere to the movable die members. With most metal working apparatus of this type it is customary to provide some means for stripping the cups or stamping from themovable die members. This stripping mechanism is usually carried by the slide and arranged to strip the stampingfrom-themovable die member ator near the' upper end of the press stroke. I have provided an improved stripping means which is carried by and-operatedbythereciprocation of the slide and which is arranged to strip the stamping from the'movable die member and force it out of the stationary die member at or near the bottom of 'the stroke. This type of stripping mechanism is particularly advantageous for use with automatic feedingsand ztransferimechanlsms used in combination with a plurality of dies mounted in a press for simultaneously performing a plurality of different operations. It is also especially useful when automatic mechanism is provided for discharging a finished stamping from a press.

My improved form of stripping mechanism will now be described. It consists generally of v a plunger, which is normally urged upwardly by air pressure, slidably mounted in a vertical bore in .each of the movable parts 22, 24 and 26 of the dies I8, 19, and 2!! and means, operated by the crank-shaft, for depressing the plungers, within their respective bores, in timed relation to the reciprocation of the die slide 5. Each plunger 45 has an enlarged head 46 and is slidably mounted in a vertical bore 41 in the movable die members 22, 24 and 21. The upper ends of the plungers 45 are connected to cross bars 3-3 which are slidably mounted in transverse slots 49 in the die slide 5. The cross bars 48 are normally held at the top of the slots 45, in the position shown in Figures 3 and 5, by air operatedpistons 50, slidably mounted in cylinders 5! in alignment with the cross bars 48 near each end thereof. Compressed air is supplied to the cylinders 51 beneath the pistons by suitable flexible connections not shown. A pair of slides 52 extending lengthwise of the press parallel to the die slide 5, one in front thereof and onein the rear thereof are mounted for vertical movement in guides 53 formed on.or secured to thegibs 6. The slides 52 are each adjustably connected by 'rods 54 too, pair of spaced parallel tran versely extending cross bars 55, and the cross bars 55 are each securedito the lower ends of a cooperating pair ofrods 56 slidably mounted in vertical bores 51 in the crown of the press. Each of the rods 51 has secured thereto by an adjustable extension 58 a piston 59 Which is slidably mounted in a cooperating cylinder 50. Air under pressure which is constantly supplied to the cylinder 55 beneath the pistons .59 by suitabie connections not shown, urges theipistons 59 upwardly and normally'holds the cross bars 55 and the slides 52 connected thereto up in theposition shown in Figures 3 and 5.

Each of theslides 52 has a latch 6i pivotally mounted in alignment with each of i the three cross bars48. These latches 6| are biased toward the die slide 5 by springpressed plungers -62. Each cross bar'55 has-a roller 63 mounted thereonon a short shaft '84 whichis carried thereby. The rol1ers63 are adaptedto be engaged by cooperating cams 65 which are rigidly secured to the crank-shaft 8 in operative relation tothe rollers 63.

The operation of the stripping device is as follows: The crank-shaft being rotated in a clockwisedirection, as previously described, will move the die slide 5 from its uppermost position shown in Figure 3, which is the top of the stroke, down to its lowermost position, the bottom of the stroke, as shown iniFigure 5, and the dies l8, l9 and '20 willperform their respective operations upon the stock therein. The downward movement of the die slide 5 will also carry the cross bars 48 downwardly until they are engaged by the spring pressed latches 6!, which occurs just at the bottom of the stroke, when the slides 52 which carry the latchesB! are properly adjusted; and rhecams 65 are so constructed and arranged that they will :just come into contact with the roll- :ers's63 at thezbottomvof'the stroke as is shown iinFigure-e; The continued rotation of the. crankshaft in a'clockwise direction will cause the cams 65 to depress the cross bars 55 which in turn will depress the slides 52. The'depression of the slides 52 will in turn, through the latches 6|, depress the cross bars 48 and they in turn will force the plungers 45 downwardly stripping the stamping off the movable parts of the dies and forcing them down out of th stationary parts of the dies as is shown in Figure 6. The continued rotation of the crank-shaft will move the came 65 out of engagement with the rollers 53 and will move the die slide upwardly bringing cams 66 carried thereby into engagement with the latches BI. The cams 8'6 will release the latches BI from the cross bars 48 and allow the air operated pistons 59 to return the cross bars 55 and slides 52 back to their initial positions as shown in Figure 3.

Having described the construction and operation of the press, die mechanism, blankholder and stripping mechanism I will now describe in detail the construction and operation of the feeding and transfer mechanism and its relation to the various other mechanisms just described.

It consists generally of a magazine, in which a large number of preformed blanks are placed, having means for moving successive blanks into position to be engaged by a suction cup which lifts the blanks out of the magazine into position to be fed into the die mechanism; an upper conveyor which includes a pair of spaced parallel bars which are moved toward and away from each other to grasp and release the blanks and stampings and which are longitudinally shifted to feed a blank to the first die in the die mechanism and to simultaneously transfer stampin-gs from a position between adjacent dies into operative position in the next successive die; a second conveyor, below the first conveyor which receives the stampings as they are forced out of the stationary part of the dies by the stripping mechanism and transfers them to a position between adjacent dies; elevator mechanism which lifts the stampings up from the lower conveyor into position to be engaged by the upper conveyor; and means for operating the various parts in timed relation to each other.

The magazine 39 includes a base 61, which is rotatably supported upon an extension 68 of the bed I of the press. A plurality of rods 69 which are secured to and extend upwardly from the base 61 form four compartments in which the preformed blanks or discs 29 are stacked. A support I9 is loosely mounted in each of the compartments in recesses II in the base 61. The sup ports ID are adapted to be successively engaged by a rack I2 as the compartments are rotated into register therewith when the rack is in its retracted position. The rack I2 raises the support 19, and the blanks 29 supported therefrom, the thickness of one blank for every stroke of the press. The rack I2 is raised by a gear 13, meshing therewith, which is clutched to a shaft I4 by a clutch I5. The shaft 14 and gear I3 are rotated from a shaft I6 through suitable connecting gears in a case 11, and the shaft I8 is rotated through a one way clutch I8 by links I9 which are connected to a pivoted lever 89 which is oscillated by a cam 8|, secured to one end of the crank-shaft 8, through a connected rod 82 and slide 83. A one way clutch 84 similar to the clutch I8 but operating in the opposite direction is provided to keep the shaft I8 from being rotated in the opposite direction by the weight of the blanks 29 acting through the rack I2 and gear I3. -In order that the supports I9 may. be raised manually so as to bring the top of each stack of blanks 29, supported thereon, to the proper height before starting the press I provide a one way clutch 85, similar to and working in the same direction as the clutch I8, which is-operated by a treadle 86 through links 81. This renders it unnecessary to always fill the compartmentsof the magazine with blanks before starting operation. It also renders it possible tov run through any desired number of blanks. After all of the blanks in a compartment have, been used the rack I2 is lowered down below the base 91, by disengaging the clutch I5 which may be done by a treadle 15a provided for this purpose, and then the magazine 39 is rotated manually to bring the next compartment into register with the .rack I2. The rack itself prevents rotation of the magazine when the rack is in operative \position in engagement with one of the supports I9 as shown in Figure 20. In order to rotate the magazine the rack must first be retracted down below the bottom of the base 61 which lowers the support I9 thereon down into the recess 'II where the rack leaves it.

As theblanks 29 are raised by the rack I2 the top blank of the stack is engaged by a suction cup 88 and raised into position to be grasped by the upper conveyor which feeds the blanks into operative position in the first die of the die mechanism. The suction cup 88 is secured to the lower end of a member 89 which is pivotally see cured to the outer ends of a pair of parallel links 99 which have their inner ends pivotally secured to a bracket 9I extending outwardly from one of the uprights 2. The suction cup 88 is raised and lowered in proper timed relation to the rest of the apparatus by a cam 92, Figures 8 and 22, secured to one end of the crank-shaft 8. The cam 92 is operatively connected by an adjustable rod 93 to one of the .parallel links 99 and raises and lowers the suction .cup once for every stroke of the press.

As eachblank is raised from the magazine 39 by the suction cup 89 it is grasped between the first of a plurality of pairs of grips 94 secured to transversely and longitudinally movable bars 95. The bars 95 each have an elongated lug 95 secured to the under side thereof near each end thereof. These lugs are slidably received for longitudinal movement in dovetail grooves 91 in blocks 98 which are slidably mounted for transverse movement in dovetail grooves 99 formed in supports I99 and IN secured to and extending outwardly from opposite sides of the press. With this construction the bars 95 can be moved both transversely and longitudinally, by mechanism which will now be described.

The ends of the bars 95 opposite the magazine 39 each have secured to the under side thereof a block I92 which is slidably received for trans verse movement in a dovetail groove I93 formed in the upper part of a slide I94 which is mounted for longitudinal movement on the upper surface of the support I9I between guides I95. A link I96ghas one end thereof pivotally connected to the under side of the slide I94, as indicated at I91. The otherend of the link I9! is pivoted at I98 to the. upper end of a lever I99 which is keyed to a transversely extending shaft II9 rotatably supported in suitable bearing in the support I9I.' 'An arm III is rigidly secured to one end of the shaft II9. The outer end of the arm III is pivoted at II2 .to the lower end of an ad,

justable connecting rod; 1 I 3 which. has-it's upper: end ipivotall'y connected; at: I174 to, ,thelower end ofa .vertical slide I I 5. suitably, mounted in a. guide. H6. The slide I.I5.is.reciprocated.up and. down in the guide I I6, witha longydwell. in its up position, by a cam III secured'to one end'of the crank-shaft Bend-having a cam track I I8 formed in the facethereof in which is received" a. roller 9- rotatably mounted on a stud'I20 secured to the centrallsection of a leverI2I which hasone end thereof :pivotally connected; to a lug I22 formed integral with the cam and gear'casing I23;v The other end of the lever I2I is pivotally connected at I24 to the upper endsof links I25 which have their lower endspivotally connected at I26'to the upper end of the slideI I5. From the foregoing. it will be readilyseen: that as'the cam: H1 is rotated it will reciprocate-the slide II which will in turn oscillate the shaft H0 through the connecting rod II3. and arm III. The: shaft Hi! When oscillated will through the lever I09 and link I00 move the slide IM'and the bars 95 connected thereto back and: forth longi tudinally of 'the' press; with a long dwell at one end of their movement, which is-the position shown in Figures .11, 12, 14: and? 15, and a short dwell atthe other; end of theirmovement; when they arein the-position shown in Figures 16; 1'7, 19 and 20.v The long dwell is during approximately l80=degrees rotation of the cam II! and the'short dwell is during approximately 60 degrees rotation of the cam I I I, which is due to the contour of the cam track I I8;

During the dwells in the longitudinal movement of the bars 95 they. are moved towardand away-from each other transversely of the press by duplicate mechanismsat each end of the press, which are generally indicated by the numeral I21. The bars 95 are moved away from each other,,from the position shown in Figure 11 to the position shown in'Figule 14, during the'long dwell; and toward eachother, from theposition shown in Figure 16 to the position shown in Figure 19 during the short dwell;

The mechanisms I21 are illustrated in detail in Figures 13 and' 18, Figure 13 showing the-variousparts in the position they assume after having-moved the bars 95 toward each other to the position shown inFigures 1'1 and 19-; and. Figure 18-.showing the parts in the positionthey assume after having moved the bars awayfrom each other to theposition shown in Figures 14 and 16. Since the mechanisms I21 at both ends of -the press are duplicates of each other'a description ofonewillsufiice for both. Theyare operated by the cams 0I, through the slides 83, connecting rods 82 and levers 80, previously referred to in connection with the description of the magazine and the mechanism for raising thestack of blanks therein. An arcuate shaped arm I28 which-isrigidlysecured to thelever 80 is connected by a short link I29 to-oneof the blocks 98; A bell crank'lever I30 pivotally supported at I3,I- has one arm thereofconnected toanother of the-blocks 98-by a short connecting link. I32, and'the otherarm thereof connected to the lever 80-by ashort connecting link: I33;

The cam 8| has a cam track I34 formed in the face thereof in whichis received a roller I35 rotatably mounted on a stud- I36 secured to the central'section of a lever I31 whichhas one end pivotally connected to a lug I38 formed integral with; the cam and gear casing I23. The other endjof; the lever I371 is-pivotally connected at I39 -+.he.upner ends of links I40 which have theirlower endspivotally connected at IM to the upper end of the slide 83. The cam track I34 is so shaped that it reciprocates the slide 83 with adwell'in both its" lowermost and uppermost positions during approximately 120degrees rotation of the cam 8|; From the foregoing it will be apparent that as the cam BI (rotates it will reciprocate the slide 83 which will. in turn'rock the lever back and forth upon its pivot. The lever 80 when it is rocked back and forth will oscillate the arms I28 and I30'to move the bars 05 toward and away from each other with a dwell at the limits of their movement'in both directions. The cams 8| are so set with respect to the cams II! that the bars will be moved transversely of the press during the dwells in their longitudinal movement.

The cycle of movement of the bars 95is first to the position shown in Figure 11 where the long dwell in their longitudinal movementtakes place. During this dwell they are moved transversely away from each other to the position shown in Figure 14 where they dwell'during approximately degrees rotation of the crank-shaft. During this transverse dwell they are moved longitudinally to the position shown in Figure 16, where the short dwell in their longitudinal movement occurs: During this short dwell in the longitudinal movement of the bars 95 they are moved transversely toward each other to the position shown in Figure 19 bringing the first pair of grips 94 thereon into engagement with a blank 29 held in position by' the suction cup 88. After the bars 95 have been moved to this position there is another dwell in their transverse movement during which they are moved longitudinally in the reverse direction back to the position shown in Figure 11, bringing the blankheld in the last pair of grips'94 into position in the die I9. After fivecycles of operation of the bars 95, or five strokes of the press, the bars 95-moving through one complete cycle for every complete strokeof the press, there will be a blank 29 held in each pair of grips 94. After that a blank 29 will be fed intothe die I8 after each down stroke of the die slide. ,5, the blanks being. fed progressively through succeeding pairs of grips 94. I

The-die support28 is, recessed beneath each of the diesl8, I9. and. 20 as indicated at I42. A lower conveyor generally indicated by the numeral I43 is slidablymounted, for longitudinal movement only, in guides I44 in the die support 28.and extends through'the recesses I42. The conveyor I43 consists of a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending bars, I40 which are joinedtogether at one end bya crossbar I47, and at their other endby a slide I40 mounted between guides I49. in the support ml. The slide .I48'isconnected by a short link I50 to the upper end-ofalever I5I which is rotatably sup ported. on a stud shaft I52. securedy within the support IOI. The lever I5I is connected by a shortlink I53to thelower end of the lever Hi9 below the-shaft IIO asshown-in Figures 12 and 17.- As-the shaft H0 is rocked or oscillated'by the cam- II T, as hereinbefore described, the conveyor I43 willbe reciprocated back and forth between.the position showminFigure- 12 and the positionshown in Figure 17. Theupper conveyor and thelower conveyor I43 will be movedsimultaneously, the lower conveyor moving to the left whilerthe upper conveyor is moving to the right andvice versa; and since both conveyors are moved--longitudinally bythe cam I I1 they will both have the same dwells ments.

After the cups 3|, 32 and 33 have been formed by the down stroke of the press and the stripping mechanism has operated to strip the cups from the movable parts of the dies and force them down through and out of the stationary parts of the dies to'the position shown in Figure 15 they are received between cooperating grips I54 on the conveyor bars I46 and moved from the position shown in Figure 15 to the position shown in Figure 17, where they are engaged by an elevator mechanism which lifts them from the position shown in Figure 17 to the position shown in Figure 20. After the cups have been raised to the position shown in Figure 20 they are engaged by the upper conveyor, between opposed cooperating grips I55 on the bars 95, and moved to the position shown' in Figure 12, ready for the next operation. I

The elevator mechanism which will now be described includes three aligned racks I56, each of which has an enlarged cup engaging and supporting head I51 secured to the upper end thereof. The racks I56 are slidably supported in guides I58 and are raised and lowered, in timed relation to the'operation of the upper and lower conveyors, by cooperating gears I59 keyed to a shaft I60. The shaft I60 is rotated in first one direction and then the other by a segmental gear I6I which meshes with a pinion gear I62 keyed to one end of the shaft I60. The segmental gear I6I is keyed to a shaft I63 which is rocked back and forth by the reciprocation of a rack I64 which meshes with a segmental gear I 65 also in their movekeyed to the shaft I63. The rack I64 is suitably supported in a guide I66, and is connected at its necting red I 61 which has its upper end pivotally connected at I68 tothe lower end of a vertical slide I69 suitably mounted in a guide I10. The slide I69 is reciprocated up and down in the guide I10, with a long dwell in its upper position and a short dwell in its lower position, by a cam I1I,secured to one end of the crank-shaft 8, which has a cam track I12 formed in th face thereof in whichis received a roller I13 rotatably mounted on a stud I14 secured to the central section of a lever I15 which has one end thereof pivotally connected to a lug I16 formed integral with the cam and gear housing I 23. The other end of the lever I15 is pivotally connected at I11 to the upper ends of links I 18 which have their lower endspivotally connected at I 19 to the upper end of the slide I69. From the foregoing it will be seen that as the cam I1I rotates mth the crank-shaft 8 the racks I56 will be quickly raised and lowered and will dwell in their lowermost position, shown in Figure 15 and 17 during about 180 degrees rotation of the crank-shaft and in their uppermost position, shown in Figures 12 and 20, during about 60 degrees rotation of the crank-shaft.

The general operation of the whole mechanism paratus is then put into operation by engagin the clutch I1. The upper conveyor willtake blanks from the suction cup 89, which lifts them successively from the top of the stack thereunder, and feed them into the die I8, in proper timed relation to the stroke of the die slide 5, to be engaged first by the blankholder 34 and held thereby while the movable part 22 of the die I8 forces the blank into the stationary part 2| of the die forming the cup 3 I. The stripping mechanism then operates to strip the cup 3I oil? the movable part 22 of the die I8 and down through the stationary part 2I thereof onto the lower conveyor I43 as shown in Figure 15. The lower conveyor I43 then moves the cup 3I into position over the adjacent rack I 56, as shown in Figure 18, which lifts the cup 3| up to the position shown in Figure 20 where it is engaged by the upper conveyor and moved into proper position in the die I9. The next stroke of the die slide forces the cup 31 down through the stationary part 23 of the die I9 forming the cup 32 which is stripped off of the movable part 24 of the die I0 and onto the lower conveyor I43, as shown in Figure 15. The lower conveyor then moves the cup 32 into position over the next rack I 56 which raises the cup 32 into the position shown in Figure 12 where it is engaged by the upper conveyor and moved into position in the die 20. The next stroke of the die slide 5 forces the cup 32 down into the stationary part 25 of the die 20 forming the finished cup 33. The cup 33 is then stripped out of the die 20 and onto the lower conveyor I43 (Figure 15) which moves it into the position shown in Figure 18 where it is lifted by the rack I56 to the position shown in Figure 20 where it is engaged by the upper conveyor and moved partially out of the press to the position shown in Figure 12. After the whole apparatus has been completely loaded, the blanks 29 and the'cups 3|, 32 and 33 will all be operated upon simultaneously every stroke of the press, and one finished cup 33 will be completed on each stroke as will be readily understood.

As the blanks 29 are fed from the magazine 30 into the die mechanism they are moved through a weighing station which consists of a platform I secured to the upper ends of a pair of rods IBI which are adjustably secured to one end of a pivoted lever "I82, pivotally supported at I83. A weight I84 is slidably mounted on the lever I82 adjacent the free end thereof. AS the blanks are fed from the magazine 30 they are first deposited on the platform I80. The weight I84 is so adjusted that the platform will tilt, if more than one blank 29 is deposited thereon at one time, and discharge the blanks down a chute I85. This prevents more than one disc at a time being fed into the die mechanism.

It will be understood that various modifications can be made in the construction of my improved apparatus as illustrated and described herein without departing from the scope of the invention as pointed out in the following claims. 1. A sheet metal working apparatus including a crank-shaft, a reciprocal die slide and operative connections between the slide and crank-shaft through which the slide is reciprocated by the crank-shaft, a stationary die member, a movable die member secured to the die slide, in combination with a stripping mechanism, said stripping mechanism comprising; a stripping member slidably mounted in said die slide in operative relation to said movable die member, a cross bar slidably mounted in a transverse slot in said die slide connected to the upper end of said stripping member, a stripping slide normally disconnected from said cross bar and said stripping member, operative connections between said crank-shaft and said stripping slide for depressing said stripping slide in timed relation to the movement of said die slide, and means for connecting said cross bar to said stripping slide and disconnecting said cross bar from said stripping slide at predetermined times in the movement of said die slide.

2. A sheet metal working apparatus including a crank-shaft, a reciprocal die slide and operative connections between the slide and crankshaft through which the slide is reciprocated by the crank-shaft, a stationary die member, a movable die member secured to the die slide, in combination with a stripping mechanism, said stripping mechanism comprising; a stripping member slidably mounted in said die slide in operative relation to said movable die member, a cross bar slidably mounted in a transverse slot in said die slide connected to the upper end of said stripping member, a stripping slide, operative connections between said crank-shaft and said stripping slide for depressing said stripping slide in timed relation to the movement of said die slide, a latch carried by said stripping slide for engaging said cross bar at a predetermined point in the movement of the die slide whereby said cross bar and said stripping member are moved with said stripping slide, and means for disengaging said latch from said cross bar at a predetermined time.

3. A sheet metal working apparatus including a crank-shaft, a reciprocal die slide and operative connections between the slide and crankshaft through which the slide is reciprocated by the crank-shaft, a stationary die member, a movable die member secured to the die slide, in combination with means for stripping a stamping from said movable die member and forcing it out of the stationary die member said means comprising, a plunger slidably mounted within said movable die member, a cross bar slidably mounted in a transverse slot in said die slide connected to the upper end of said plunger, means normally holding said cross bar in its uppermost position, a pair of stripping slides one on each side of said die slide, means normally holding said stripping slides in their uppermost positions, means operated by said crank-shaft for depressing said stripping slides, a latch carried by each of said stripping slides for engaging said cross bar at opposite ends thereof at a predetermined point in the movement of said die slide whereby said cross bar and said plunger are moved with said stripping slides, and means carried by said die slide for disengaging said latches from said cross bar at a predetermined point in the movement of said die slide.

4. In a sheet metal working apparatus the combination of a bed, a reciprocal die slide, a stationary open ended die member secured to said bed, a movable die member rigidly secured to said die slide in operative relation to said stationary die member, means including a crank shaft for reciprocating said die slide to bring said movable die member into operative engagement with said stationary die member to force a blank into said stationary die member around said movable die member, and means operative to strip the formed blank from said movable die member and to force said formed blank on through and out of said open ended stationary die member, said last mentioned means comprising a stripping and ejecting member carried by said die slide in operative relation to said movable die, means normally holding said stripping and ejecting member in retracted position, a stripping slide normally disengaged from said stripping and ejecting member, means independent of said die slide for reciprocating said stripping slide in timed relation to said die slide, and means for operatively connecting said stripping slide to said stripping and ejecting member at a predetermined time in the movement of the die slide whereby said stripping and ejecting member is moved by said stripping slide independently of the movement of said die slide.

5. In a sheet metal working apparatus the combination of a bed, a reciprocal die slide, a stationary open ended die member secured to said bed, a movable die member rigidly secured to said die slide in operative relation to said stationary die member, means including a crankshaft for reciprocating said die slide to bring said movable die member into operative engagement with said stationary die member to force a blank into said stationary die member around said movable die member, and means operative to strip the formed blank from said movable die member and to force said formed blank on through and out of said open ended stationary die member, said last mentioned means comprising a stripping and ejecting member carried by and movable with said die slide in operative relation to said movable die, and mechanism operable to move said stripping and ejectin member a further distance in the direction it was moved by the die slide during the forming stroke. said mechanism comprising a stripping slide normally disconnected from said stripping and ejecting member, means for reciprocating said stripping slide in timed relation to said die stroke, and means for operatively connecting said stripping slide to said stripping and ejecting member at a predetermined time in the movement of the die slide.

6. In a sheet metal working apparatus the combination of a bed, a reciprocal die slide, a stationary open ended die member secured to said bed, a movable die member rigidly secured to said die slide in operative relation to said stationary die member, means including a crankshaft for reciprocating said die slide to bring said movable die member into operative engagement with said stationary die member to force a blank into said stationary die member around said movable die member, and means operative to strip the formed blank from said movable die member and to force said formed blank on through and out of said open ended stationary die member, said last mentioned means comprising a plunger slidably mounted in said die slide in operative relation to said movable die, means normally holding said plunger in retracted position and mechanism for moving said plunger a further distance in the direction it was moved by the die slide during the forming stroke, said mechanism comprising a stripping slide independent of said die slide, means for reciprocating said stripping slide in timed relation to said die slide, means for operatively connecting said stripping slide to said plunger at the end of the forming stroke of the die slide, and means carried by said die slide for disconnecting said stripping slide from said plunger after the die slide has moved a predetermined distance on the return stroke.

WILLIAM F. LONGFIELD. 

